Section 143 of the Railways Act, 1989 - Commercial Matters

 

Section 143 of the Railways Act, 1989

1. Meaning of the Statement

The statement 'This ticket is booked on a personal user ID. Its sale/purchase is an offence under Section 143 of the Railways Act, 1989' appears on IRCTC e-tickets. It indicates that the ticket is booked using an individual’s personal ID and not through an authorized agent. Any sale or resale of such tickets is illegal under the Railways Act.

2. Background

IRCTC provides two types of user IDs:

1. Personal User ID – For individuals booking tickets for themselves, family, or friends without charging any service fee.

2. Agent ID – For authorized agents recognized by IRCTC to sell tickets legally and charge a service fee.

3. Section 143 of the Railways Act, 1989

Section 143 prohibits unauthorized persons from engaging in the business of procuring and supplying railway tickets. Only IRCTC-authorized agents are allowed to carry out such activities.

4. Legal Explanation

As per Section 143(1): No person shall carry on the business of procuring and supplying railway tickets without authorization.

Section 143(2) specifies the punishment for violation: imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine up to ₹10,000, or both.

5. Practical Examples

·        If a person books tickets using multiple personal IDs and sells them to others → Illegal.

·        If a cyber café or travel shop books tickets on a personal ID and sells them → Illegal.

·        If an IRCTC-authorized agent books tickets using agent login → Legal.

·        If you book tickets for yourself or family using your own ID → Legal.

6. Purpose of Printing this Message

The message on e-tickets serves to warn passengers and prevent misuse of personal IDs for commercial purposes. It discourages black marketing and ensures fair ticket availability.

7. Summary for Learners

Concept	Explanation
Law Involved	Section 143 of the Railways Act, 1989
Nature of Offence	Selling or purchasing tickets booked through personal ID
Who Can Sell Tickets?	Only IRCTC-authorized agents
Punishment	Imprisonment up to 3 years or fine up to ₹10,000 or both
Objective	Prevent ticket touting and ensure fairness

8. Conclusion

A personal IRCTC ID is strictly for self-use. Selling or buying tickets booked through such IDs for profit is an offence under Section 143 of the Railways Act, 1989, punishable with imprisonment, fine, or both.

End

रेलवे अधिनियम, 1989 की धारा 143

1. कथन का अर्थ

आईआरसीटीसी ई-टिकटों पर यह कथन दिखाई देता है कि "यह टिकट एक व्यक्तिगत उपयोगकर्ता आईडी से बुक किया गया है। इसकी बिक्री/खरीद रेलवे अधिनियम, 1989 की धारा 143 के अंतर्गत एक अपराध है।" यह दर्शाता है कि टिकट किसी व्यक्ति की व्यक्तिगत आईडी से बुक किया गया है, न कि किसी अधिकृत एजेंट के माध्यम से। ऐसे टिकटों की किसी भी प्रकार की बिक्री या पुनर्विक्रय रेलवे अधिनियम के अंतर्गत अवैध है।

2। पृष्ठभूमि

आईआरसीटीसी दो प्रकार की उपयोगकर्ता आईडी प्रदान करता है:

1. व्यक्तिगत उपयोगकर्ता आईडी- बिना किसी सेवा शुल्क के अपने लिए, परिवार या दोस्तों के लिए टिकट बुक करने वाले व्यक्तियों के लिए।

2. एजेंट आईडी- आईआरसीटीसी द्वारा मान्यता प्राप्त अधिकृत एजेंटों को कानूनी रूप से टिकट बेचने और सेवा शुल्क लेने की अनुमति।

3. रेलवे अधिनियम, 1989 की धारा 143

धारा 143 अनधिकृत व्यक्तियों को रेलवे टिकट खरीदने और आपूर्ति करने के व्यवसाय में शामिल होने से रोकती है। केवल IRCTC द्वारा अधिकृत एजेंटों को ही ऐसी गतिविधियाँ करने की अनुमति है।

4. कानूनी स्पष्टीकरण

धारा 143(1) के अनुसार: कोई भी व्यक्ति बिना प्राधिकरण के रेलवे टिकट खरीदने और आपूर्ति करने का व्यवसाय नहीं करेगा।

धारा 143(2) उल्लंघन के लिए सजा निर्दिष्ट करती है: 3 वर्ष तक कारावास, या ₹10,000 तक जुर्माना, या दोनों।

5. व्यावहारिक उदाहरण

·        यदि कोई व्यक्ति एक से अधिक व्यक्तिगत आईडी का उपयोग करके टिकट बुक करता है और उन्हें दूसरों को बेचता है → अवैध।

·        यदि कोई साइबर कैफे या ट्रैवल शॉप व्यक्तिगत आईडी पर टिकट बुक करता है और उन्हें बेचता है → अवैध।

·        यदि IRCTC-अधिकृत एजेंट एजेंट लॉगिन का उपयोग करके टिकट बुक करता है → कानूनी।

·        यदि आप अपने या परिवार के लिए अपनी आईडी का उपयोग करके टिकट बुक करते हैं → कानूनी।

6. इस संदेश को छापने का उद्देश्य

ई-टिकटों पर संदेश यात्रियों को सचेत करने और व्यक्तिगत पहचान पत्रों के व्यावसायिक उद्देश्यों के लिए दुरुपयोग को रोकने का काम करता है। यह कालाबाज़ारी को रोकता है और उचित टिकट उपलब्धता सुनिश्चित करता है।

7. शिक्षार्थियों के लिए सारांश

अवधारणा	स्पष्टीकरण
शामिल कानून	रेलवे अधिनियम, 1989 की धारा 143
अपराध की प्रकृति	व्यक्तिगत आईडी के माध्यम से बुक किए गए टिकटों को बेचना या खरीदना
टिकट कौन बेच सकता है?	केवल IRCTC-अधिकृत एजेंट
सज़ा	3 वर्ष तक का कारावास या ₹10,000 तक का जुर्माना या दोनों
उद्देश्य	टिकट दलाली रोकें और निष्पक्षता सुनिश्चित करें

8. निष्कर्ष

व्यक्तिगत आईआरसीटीसी आईडी केवल स्वयं के उपयोग के लिए है। ऐसे आईडी के माध्यम से बुक किए गए टिकटों को लाभ के लिए बेचना या खरीदना रेलवे अधिनियम, 1989 की धारा 143 के तहत एक अपराध है, जिसके लिए कारावास, जुर्माना या दोनों से दंडनीय है।

अंत

Mini Rakes - Supplementary charges - Commercial

 

Mini Rake Policy – Indian Railways

Source: CC (Commercial Circular) No. 162 of 2022 (Transportation Product – Block Rake / Mini Rake / Two Point Combination etc.).

Mini Rake & Supplementary Charges

Distance Slab	Supplementary Charge
0 – 1000 km	5%
1001 – 2000 km	7.5%
Beyond 2000 km	10%

Additional Details

• Effective Date: 01 July 2022

• Validity: Up to 30 June 2023 (for supplementary charge provisions)

• Restrictions: Mini Rake / Two‑Point / piecemeal traffic is not permitted from specified congested goods sheds.

End

JPP-RCS - Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service

 

JPP-RCS

Features: 

• Stands for Joint Parcel Product-Rapid cargo Service

• Partnership: Indian Railways and India Post

• Object: Seamless, door-to-door logistics solutions for consignments. 

• Integrated Service: India Post handles first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery, while Indian Railways manages the main transit between stations. 

First Mile	Transit between  First Mile & Last Mile	Last Mile
India Post	Indian Railways	India Post

• VAP - Virtual Aggregation Platform - An online platform developed by Indian Railways to facilitate load aggregation from multiple customers, allowing for efficient booking and tracking of consignments. 

• Time-Tabled Services: Operates on scheduled parcel trains, ensuring timely and reliable delivery of goods. (like Passenger trains) 

• Affordable Tariffs -  India Post charging Rs.6 per KG for combined pickup and delivery within municipal limits 

• Insurance coverage by third part - at 0.03% of Consignment value plus GST 

• SPOC - Single Point Of Contact: India Post act as SPC throughout the process - to interact  

• Leveraging the extensive network of both IR & India Post

First ever JPP-RCS Service - Features

•  From Budgam(J&K) to Adarsh Nagar (New Delhi)

• Pilot Project for 1 Year 

• Approved by Railway Board (on 20th August, 2025)

• By Jammu Division of Northern Railway.

• Operated Daily

• Transit time:  Estimated to take approximately 23 hours, which is notably faster than the conventional road transport between Budgam and Delhi

• Consists of 8 Parcel Vans (VPs) and 1 Seating cum Luggage Rake (SLR) 

• To streamline operations, loading and unloading facilities will be provided at Bari Brahmana (BBMN) station in addition to Budgam and Adarsh Nagar 

 Benefits: 

1. Cost-effective, efficient, and reliable alternative for transporting goods 

2. Boosting Railways’ share in the courier & freight logistics. 

3.  Benefit Kashmiri producers and traders, particularly those dealing in dry fruits, handicrafts, saffron, apples, walnuts, Pashmina shawls, and carpets  

Key Points for MCQ: 

1. JPP-RCS - Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service

2. VAP - Virtual Aggregation Platform

3. SPOC - Single Point Of Contact 

4. Partners: IR & India Post  

5. First ever service: Budgam(J&K) to Adarsh Nagar (New Delhi)

6. Pilot Project: 1 year (Assessment at 6 Months) 

NTR - Normal Tariff Rate - Traffic Accounts

 

NTR stands for Normal Tariff Rate (in Traffic)

NTR refers to the total charges for transport of a commodity inclusive of:  

The Base Freight Rate as published in the goods tariff  

Plus Demand Management Charges like busy season surcharges. 

Plus Congestion Charge (if any) 

Plus supplementary charges as applicable on various transportation products.

YTSK - Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra

 

YTSK - Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra

• Private ticket booking counters authorized by Indian Railways to issue reserved and unreserved tickets through the PRS (Passenger Reservation System).

🔹 Key Features:

• Purpose: To expand ticketing facilities through authorized private agents beyond railway premises.
  
  

• Operated by: Registered individuals/firms/companies approved by zonal railways.

💰 Financial Requirements:

Particular	Amount
Registration Fee	₹2 lakh (one-time, non-refundable)
System Access Charges	₹1.6 lakh per terminal per annum
Security Deposit	₹1 lakh per terminal (up to ₹5 lakh max)
Revenue Sharing	25% of service charge to YTSK
Service Charges	₹30 (SL/2S), ₹40 (AC classes) per ticket

📆Other Key points:

• Tenure: 3 years (renewable)

• Maximum Terminals per Licensee: 4 (can be increased based on need)

• Working Hours: Generally 08:00 AM to 10:00 PM 

• Ticket Rolls: Supplied free by Railways (distinct color)

•  Counter Setup: Must be outside railway premises

• Training: Mandatory for operators
  

✅ YTSK: Success & Impact on Indian Railways

1. Convenient & Decentralized Ticketing

YTSKs provide PRS (reserved) and UTS (unreserved) ticketing outside station premises, reducing crowding and queue pressure at railway counters.  Ideal for passengers who are not internet-savvy or want to avoid station congestion.

2. Enhanced Passenger Reach

Serves localities and urban/rural areas away from stations, making ticketing more accessible and widespread

3. Balanced System Load

Helps decongest PRS counters, especially in peak periods, while complementing IRCTC website bookings (which already account for 70%+ of reservations) 

4. Private Partnerships with Accountability

Operated under strict licensing and monitoring to prevent misuse—Railways can disable terminals immediately if malpractices occur 

Advantages: 

• 🕒 Extended Hours: YTSK counters often operate longer than traditional PRS counters (e.g., 8:30 am–10 pm vs. 8 am–8 pm)
  
  

• 🎟️ Inclusive Access: Serves passengers without internet access or those unfamiliar with online booking.
  
  

• 💼 Public–Private Model: Enables more centers via PPP, increasing availability of booking counters even beyond station premises.
  
  

Disadvantages:

• 💰 Higher Charges: YTSKs levy service charges (₹30 for Sleeper/2S, ₹40 for AC), which are higher than standard PRS counters
  
  

• 🎯 Tatkal Disadvantage: Tatkal bookings open later than railway counters or IRCTC, leading to disadvantage during high-demand periods
  
  

• 💸 High Entry Barriers: Aspiring licensees must meet financial commitments—₹1.6 L system access per terminal, ₹2–5 L deposit, and ₹2–5 L registration fee depending on circulars and modifications.
  
  

• 🧾 Limitations on Service: Cannot issue concession tickets (except for senior citizens), no block booking, and limited cancellation ability (I
  
  

🚆 Final Word

YTSKs have helped decongest station counters, extended ticket booking hours, and brought railway ticketing closer to communities. They serve as a reliable option for users outside major stations, especially those uncomfortable with online booking. However, they come with higher charges, operational conditions, and limitations compared to direct PRS or IRCTC booking methods.

Key Points Summary: 

1. YTSK stands for Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra

2. Registration Fees : Rs. 2 Lakhs (One Time, Non Refundable)

3. System Access Charges Rs. 1.6 Lakhs per Terminal per Annum

4. Security Deposit: Rs. 1 Lakh per Terminal (up to Rs. Lakh maximum)

5. Revenue sharing: 25% of Service charge to YTSK

6. Service Charges Rs. 30 per Ticket (Non AC), Rs. 40 Per Ticket (AC)

7. Tenure: 3 Years 

8. Working hours: 8 AM to 10 PM

End